FAQ - Postdoctoral Fellows

Frequently Asked Questions

Need help? Find a list of FAQ鈥檚 to assist you in the application process.

Who completes the Fulfillment of Degree Requirements Form?
If you completed your PhD, health professional or equivalent degree at SFU, you can request the form be completed by Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies Staff (send the request to gpsreg@sfu.ca), otherwise contact the university at which you completed the degree.
Useful resources when applying for grants, awards & fellowships
- SFU's offers valuable resources for applying for awards and funding.
- The provides excellent EDI-related guidance. However, each funding agencies has its own set of resources and applicants are encouraged to check specific advice relevant to their proposal.
- Your supervisor is the best person to review your proposals. Additionally, it's often valued that your research aligns with both your research group's focus and the institution's strategic research planning priorities.

Can Postdoctoral Fellows apply to grants as Principal Investigators?
If you are able to provide a rationale to how you meet all eligibility criteria outlined in the funding opportunity terms and conditions and your supervisor also deems your proposed research activity "exceptional". You must submit the " Postdoctoral Fellow as Principal Investigator Approval Form" to postdoc@sfu.ca for approval before submission to the proposed granting agency.

Contact postdoctoral affairs coordinator if in doubt at postdoc@sfu.ca

How is my fellowship paid if I am a Trainee on a Fellowship or research stipend application? (NSERC, CIHR, MSFHR, SSHRC)
Send your Notice of Award (NoA) to Postdoctoral Affairs Coordinator: postdoc@sfu.ca. They will then forward your NoA to Research Accounting (RA)(research_accounting@sfu.ca) for fund set up. You will be asked to fill-in the "51猎奇入口Externally Restricted Funding Application Signature Sheet" with the help from your department.
How is my fellowship paid if I鈥檓 the Principle Investigator on a grant application and conducting independent research?
Contact SFU鈥檚 Office of Research Services: ors@sfu.ca

Who signs the application/award/authorization forms?
If you are in a departmentalized program, it usually goes to the Chair of the Department; if you are in a non-departmentalized unit (like Faculty of Health Sciences), then it goes to the Dean.